Ireland Without a Car

brandt92 · Newbie

Ireland Without a Car

bronxbomber · Veteran Member

Brandt, this May will be our first time for travelling by Bus Eireann. All of the towns you mention are on its routes.

I visited www.buseireann.ie and began my planning there. I printed out all the time tables for our route, and stitched together all our arrival and departure times. We'll take copies of our schedules with us. In our case, we will have to cab it for two short legs, which we have arranged. I have also reserved b&bs within walking distance of the bus stops.

We'll be three days in Dingle. The week before we leave, I plan to email our b&b, and ask her to please arrange for a private tour of Slea Head and Conor Pass. We'll also be doing some hiking, so I have the Ordnance Survey Map for Cork and Kerry (scale is 1:50,000).

It has taken a lot of planning, to say the least; and in our case, we had to omit Skibbereen and Clonakilty.

Sure, bus travel is restrictive, but it is cheap. (Make sure you buy a tourist pass at your point of origin.) For us seniors, at least, we are glad to be relieved of the driving. Best of all, we look forward to constant, lively conversation with our fellow travellers.

Final caution - Effective yesterday, Bus Eireann has cut back on some of its routes.

-- Edited by bronxbomber on Monday 29th of March 2010 02:49:20 PM

Michele Erdvig · Host

Brandt,

Welcome to my forum. Bronx has started you out with good info that it has taken him a long time to research. Take a look at the site he gave you. Also, you could benefit from train and bus travel. If that is so you might consider a combo pass. Go to my Transport page for links you will need.

If you are 66 years old or older you can avail of the Golden Trekker Pass that gives you free train travel: http://www.discoverireland.com/us/ireland-plan-your-visit/facts/golden-trekker/

Let us know if we can help in any other way.

Michele

bronxbomber · Veteran Member

Michelle, as seniors, we will be taking the train on our final leg, from Cork to Ennis. Bus and train both take about three hours. And we save a bit on our bus tourist pass.

Bus Eireann's last announcement regarding cutting back service came out two days prior to the changes!

Michele Erdvig · Host

Bronx,

Glad you will get to try out the pass. You will have to be the forum guinea pig. I have a few years to go before I can personally try it and it may not be around then. Let us know how it works out for you. Have you send in your request yet?

Michele

bronxbomber · Veteran Member

I emailed my application today. Their website wants you to order by phone. It doesn't have an email address, nor even a "Contact Us" icon. I googled, and their addy is goldentrekker@tourismireland.com.

I don't know if they're going to email me the passes, or tell me to pick them up in Cork, or what. I'll keep you posted.

bronxbomber · Veteran Member

Michele, to follow up:

Ordering Golden Trekker (for ages sixty-six) by email doesn't work. As their site suggests, call 1 800 SHAMROCK (7426 7625). Despite the eight-digit number, this is not an international call, so don't dial 011-353.

You will probably get Paul. He will want your passport numbers, your birth dates, your US street and email addresses, your point of origin - in our case Cork - and the number of days (two max per application, despite what their site says about four days).

Within 48 hours, he will send you email confirmation, instructing you to print and present it at the station, along with your passport. For us, there is a train from Cork to Ennis every two hours. Bus Eireann leaves Cork on the hour. Even though we have to change trains twice, both bus and train take three hours.

In our case, not only is the train free, but as we will be using it only on our next to last day, we save eight euros each on Bus Eireann's Irish Rover discount pass by shortening that package by a day.

CAUTION: Many parts of the country, especially the West, are not accessible by www.irishrail.ie.

Finally, Paul asked, "Will you and your wife be travelling together?" "Of course", I said. He replied, "Ah, that CAN be a good thing."

Michele Erdvig · Host

Bronx,

Many thanks for the update. I find it strange that they say the pass is good for 4 days but when you called it is only good for two days. What's up with that? Did you ask them? Maybe they have had too many people asking for it?

I'm glad to hear that the Golden Trekker Pass is saving you some money. You will be able to have an extra pint or two while in Ireland.

Michele

bronxbomber · Veteran Member

I could have had two back-to-back passes. In our case we'll only be on the train once. I thought four days would give us some flexibility.

-- Edited by bronxbomber on Thursday 8th of April 2010 07:34:36 PM

Michele Erdvig · Host

Bronx,

I think I will call them myself to see what's up.

Michele